Man sentenced for brutal attack on dog which left it with four puncture wounds, swelling, bruising and weeping sore on head

John Little, aged 19, formerly of Wellington Green, Larne, was sentenced at Ballymena Magistrates Court on Wednesday, March 27, after previously pleading guilty to causing unnecessary suffering of a dog called Diesel. A second man has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the matter and is to be sentenced at a later date.

The charges were brought against Little by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011. Proceedings followed an investigation by council’s Animal Welfare Officer in August 2021 when a report was received from a member of the public of an injured dog found in a ditch in the Inver area of Larne.

The court heard that the dog was rushed for emergency treatment and the vet who treated Diesel observed: “On examination the dog was subdued, had a large malodorous weeping wound on the top of his head and had severe swelling and bruising of the eyes and mouth.” In addition, there were four puncture wounds to the left-hand side of Diesel’s face. A radiograph of the dog’s skull revealed two fractures. After treatment at vets for approximately a month he was transferred to Dogs Trust where he was later successfully rehomed to a new family. After enquiries it was discovered that Little had been in possession of Diesel.

Animal Welfare executed a search warrant at a property in 2021 and seized mobile devices. These devices were examined, and numerous photos and videos were found of Diesel on Little’s phone. Messages found on the phone, council stated, demonstrated that he and another individual planned the attack. District Judge Broderick sentenced Little to 180 hours of Community Service along with a 20-year Disqualification Order from owning all animals. In addition, he was ordered to pay £807.95 in expenses. Commenting after sentencing, a spokesperson for Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said it gives a high priority to the welfare of domestic pets and hopes this case “serves as a warning to anyone who does not take appropriate care of animals”.